9/11 a Day of Service

9/11 has forever changed the pathway of my life.  I was enlisted in Recruit Training (Boot Camp) in Parris Island, South Carolina and my platoon was in the final phases of boot camp and it was the first day of the infamous “Crucible.”  I will never forget when I overheard a side conversation with my Series Gunnery Sergeant with our Drill Instructors.  As we received a brief downtime from training our Company Commander has informed us of the terrible news.  We as upcoming Marines at the time were upset, sad, and full of emotion.  We were no longer serving to get away from home or to fund our college education, we are now serving our nation to go to war.

As we completed the Crucible and earned our titles “US Marine,” our Series Gunnery Sergeant has told us this is for real.  We will find ourselves doing what Marines are trained to do!  Whether on ship, air, or on land, we will be called to battle.

My life has changed.. no longer am I the Marine who signed up to get away from home.  As I returned home to enjoy my 10 days of leave.. I volunteered to help out at the WTC site.  I met a few other Marines (active and reservist) who put on their uniform to help firefighters and police officers.  I’ll never forget a firemen I met who was saddened that he was digging up his own people.  He was a discharged Marine Corps veteran and he looked me in the eye and told me he is going back in.  His words to me, “this is a moment when our nation needs us most, we are counting on you and the other Marines… I will be joining you and hope to see you out there.”

Fast forward two years later in Operation Iraqi Freedom.. I ran into that fireman and saw him in his desert cami’s with attached to a reserve unit in Garden City.  I don’t remember his name but his face and desire has never left my mind.

This is my story of 9-11.. we will never forget where we were.. I was earning the title “Marine” and my life has forever changed..

Thank you for all the first responders who were brave to run into the burning buildings… Thank you for the service members who volunteered their lives to serve our nation..

– Ryan Enriquez